A street on the newly-built housing estate at the former hospital site in Frenchay is to be named ‘Sinatra Way’ after the famous performer.

The name is a reference to the time Sinatra visited the hospital and its patients in 1953, while in Bristol performing at the Hippodrome.

Hannah Pollard, sales director at Redrow, who are the developers behind the housing scheme, said: “Frank Sinatra famously played at Frenchay Hospital in 1953 – an event that is still fondly remembered among many in the community.

Sinatra pictured at the hospital with patients in 1953

“At Redrow we’re always keen to name new roads in ways that will be meaningful to local people. The council presented us with a selection of names and following consultation, this one was chosen.

“We’re thrilled to have bought a smile to many faces by reigniting memories of this historic event.”

But according to Alan Freek, the curator of Frenchay Museum, when Sinatra came to the city, he was at the lowest ebb of his illustrious career.

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Alleged connections to the Mafia were beginning to be called into question while, at the same time, his stormy marriage to screen beauty Ava Gardner was starting to make headlines.

After performing one night at the Hippodrome, Sinatra decided to set aside some time the following day to visit Frenchay Hospital and cheer up the patients.

Fred Hooper was one of those lucky patients. The Bristol fireman, who was 28-years-old at the time, had been cooped up in the hospital since April.

Fred Hooper, from Southville, spoke to the Bristol Post in 2008 about the time he was a patient at Frenchay Hospital when Sinatra visited

In an interview with the Bristol Post in 2008, Fred recounted what it was like to be paid a visit by one of the world’s biggest music stars.

“I’d damaged my lungs after attending a bad fire in Avonmouth docks earlier in the year,” he explains.

“They had to remove two lobes from the right side of my lungs, which is a major operation, and was a pioneering procedure back in those days. By the time Sinatra came I was almost well enough to be discharged – I was well enough to get bored of being stuck there, so I was glad of the diversion.